Disney has announced that they will soon open a new 2,000 room resort themed around the history of Disney Animation. Disney’s “Art of Animation” resort will open by the end of 2012 and will feature 1120 family suites as well as 864 standard rooms all themed around such Disney animated classics as “Finding Nemo”, “Cars” and “The Lion King”. The location of the new resort will be adjacent to Disney’s Pop Century Resort.

The resort will fall into the “value” range (similar to the All Star and Pop Century resorts), but this marks the first time Disney will open a hotel that features mostly family suites. While it may be a ‘value’ resort, it should be noted that the current ‘family suites’ available at Disney’s All Star Music routinely command an average nightly rate that is usually more than double the cost of a standard room. A room at Disney’s All Star Music during value season is listed at $82 per night, where a family suite is getting $190. Depending on the popularity of these new suites, the availability of 1120 new ones could drive the price down – but it could also drive the price up. This remains to be seen.

This is also a sure sign that Disney considers the worst of the economic downturn behind them. Even though some of the structure of the resort was built years ago (when it was presumed it would be an expansion to Pop Century), this will still add hundreds of construction jobs to the Orlando economy at a time when they are sorely needed.

I think it’s good for Disney to add more family suits, but they need to referbish thier older hotels. We just got home from staying at Allstar Movies and it was bad.
Number one we had to move to a second room after the first day because the airconditoner died and the carpet was so wet the water was ooozing out of it, and there were a number of other rooms that had the same problem.
Number two, we went to the poolbar and one of the coolers was down, and half of the beer taps would not work.
Number three, the water fountains in the Fantasia pool were broke down half the time.
There were a number of other things that were unnessasraly wrong or broke down(in my opinion).
Last year we stayed at Pop Centry (our favorite value resort)and it seemed to be starting to take a downward turn.
I was wondering if it may have something to do with all the layoffs,any other ideas?

Ed

JEANYLASER

I think that Disney has a great hotel and I hope that this hotel be the greatest!